Yes, I agree to receiving communications by email from the Irish Farmers Journal in relation to my membership, including editorial content and new marketing products and services from the Irish Farmers Journal.

Update Success !

Subscriber only

This content is available to digital subscribers and loyalty code users only. Sign in to your account or subscribe for just €1 to get unlimited access for 30 days.

European farmers faced with waves of drought have been offered supports by the European Commission with temperatures soaring past 40°C.

Farmers will be able to receive a higher percentage of their direct payments and scheme payments in advance. To improve cashflow, up to 70% of direct payments and 85% of scheme payments will be available from mid-October.

To increase the volume of feed available for animals, the Commission is also granting flexibility for land that would normally not be used for production. Greening rules on crop diversification and ecological focus area (EFA) land lying fallow are to be relaxed. The derogations are aimed at giving farmers greater options to produce fodder.

European Commissioner for Agriculture Phil Hogan said: “These prolonged climate conditions are worrying for our farmers. The Commission remains in close contact with the member states and is evaluating the situation on the ground. As always, we stand ready to assist farmers affected by drought.”

For the second time in a month temperature records have been broken in countries and cities across Europe. On Thursday 25 July, Paris recorded its hottest day on record at 42.6°C. Belgium, Germany and the Netherlands have all seen new national temperature records.

In Ireland, the definition of a heatwave is five or more consecutive days where temperatures exceed 25°C. Based on this definition, Met Éireann said Ireland has yet to experience a heatwave in 2019.